Suitcase having reinforcing structure

ABSTRACT

A suitcase includes an enclosure having a chamber formed by an outer peripheral wall and a bottom wall each having an outer peripheral flange folded inwardly to form a peripheral recess, and a cover member attached to the enclosure. A reinforcing frame is engaged into the enclosure, for bracing and reinforcing the enclosure, and includes an end edge fitted into the peripheral recess of the outer peripheral wall, for stably anchoring the reinforcing frame to the enclosure. A reinforcing strap may be attached to reinforce the enclosure with an outer sleeve. The reinforcing frame may include an inclined surface to form a sharpened end edge, for snugly fitting into the peripheral recess of the outer peripheral wall.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a suitcase, and more particularly to a suitcase having a reinforcing structure, for reinforcing the suitcase, and for preventing the suitcase from being collapsed.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Typical suitcases or luggage devices comprise a bottom enclosure, and a top cover member openably secured to the bottom enclosure with a zipper of slide fastener, for enclosing and retaining clothes or various objects within the bottom enclosure. Normally, the bottom enclosure includes four side walls, and a bottom wall that are normally made of cloth or canvas or plastic materials, and that have the outer peripheral flanges secured together, to form the bottom enclosure.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,197,580 to Berman et al. discloses one of the typical luggage devices comprising a top enclosure and a bottom enclosure secured to each other by a continuous zipper or slide fastener. Normally, the outer peripheral flanges of the four side walls and the bottom wall of the typical luggage devices are folded inwardly, and then secured together by such as staples or stitches or fasteners. However, the typical luggage devices have no reinforcing members provided and engaged in the enclosures, such that the structure of the enclosures may be easily collapsed.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,284,542 to Lee discloses a typical covering panel making process for making a covering panel for a portable case. In this patent, another typical carrying case has been shown and also includes four side walls and a bottom wall that have the outer peripheral flanges folded outwardly, and then secured together by stitches, and a protective tube attached onto the outer peripheral flanges of the side walls and the bottom wall of the typical portable case. However, the protective tube may be used to reinforce the outer peripheral flanges of the side walls and the bottom wall of the typical portable case only, but may not be used to reinforce the typical portable case, such that the typical portable case may also be easily collapsed.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,457,571 to Chen discloses a typical protective strap for a suitcase. In this patent, one or more protective straps have been provided and attached onto the outer peripheral portions of the typical suitcase. However, the protective straps may only be used to reinforce some areas of the outer peripheral portions of the typical suitcase, but may not be used to reinforce the entire suitcase, such that the central portions of the typical suitcase may also be easily collapsed.

The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional suitcases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a suitcase including a reinforcing structure, for suitably reinforcing the suitcase, and for preventing the suitcase from being easily collapsed.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a suitcase comprising an enclosure including a chamber formed therein, and defined by an outer peripheral wall and a bottom wall, the outer peripheral wall including an outer peripheral flange folded inwardly to form a peripheral recess therein, a cover member attached to the enclosure, for enclosing the chamber of the enclosure, and a reinforcing frame engaged into the chamber of the enclosure, for bracing and reinforcing the enclosure, the reinforcing frame including an end edge fitted into the peripheral recess of the outer peripheral wall, for stably anchoring the reinforcing frame to the enclosure.

The bottom wall includes an outer peripheral flange folded inwardly, and secured to the outer peripheral flange of the outer peripheral wall. A reinforcing strap is attached to the outer peripheral flanges of the outer peripheral wall and the bottom wall, for reinforcing the enclosure.

An outer sleeve is provided and attached to the outer peripheral flanges of the outer peripheral wall and the bottom wall, for receiving the reinforcing strap. The outer sleeve includes a longitudinal channel therein, to receive the longitudinal strap therein, and includes at least one flange engaged between and secured to the outer peripheral flanges the outer peripheral wall and the bottom wall.

The reinforcing frame includes an inclined surface formed therein, and located close to the end edge thereof, to form a sharpened structure for the end edge, and to allow the sharpened end edge to be snugly fitted into the peripheral recess of the outer peripheral wall.

The reinforcing frame includes a honey-comb structure having an outer peripheral panel, an inner peripheral panel, and a number of ribs provided between the peripheral panels, in which the inclined surface is formed in the inner peripheral panel of the reinforcing frame.

The reinforcing frame includes a second inclined surface formed in either the outer peripheral panel or the inner peripheral panel. The cover member is openably attached to the enclosure with a slide fastener, and the second inclined surface of the reinforcing frame is arranged to offset the reinforcing frame from the slide fastener.

The reinforcing frame may further include two end portions, and one or more pegs engaged into the end portions of the reinforcing frame, to anchor or couple the end portions of the reinforcing frame together.

Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partial exploded view of a suitcase in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the suitcase;

FIG. 3 is a partial cross sectional view of the suitcase, taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial cross sectional view of the suitcase;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial perspective view illustrating an inner reinforcing member of the suitcase;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial cross sectional view similar to FIG. 3, illustrating the other arrangement of the suitcase; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged partial perspective view similar to FIG. 5, illustrating the inner reinforcing member of the suitcase as shown in FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1-5, a suitcase in accordance with the present invention comprises an outer or bottom enclosure 10 including an inner chamber 11 formed therein, and defined by an outer peripheral wall 12 and a bottom wall 13, for receiving and retaining clothes or various objects within the chamber 11 of the enclosure 10. For example, the outer peripheral wall 12 and the bottom wall 13 of the enclosure 10 may each include an outer peripheral flange 14, 15 folded inwardly, and then secured together by such as stitches 16 (FIG. 2) or staples or fasteners (not shown).

The suitcase further includes a typical top cover member 20 openably or pivotally secured or attached to the outer enclosure 10 with such as a zipper of slide fastener 22, for enclosing the chamber 11 of the enclosure 10, and thus for stably retaining the clothes or various objects within the chamber 11 of the enclosure 10. A reinforcing and longitudinal rod or strap 30 may further be provided and attached to the outer peripheral flanges 14, 15 of the outer peripheral wall 12 and the bottom wall 13, or attached to the outer peripheral corner area of the enclosure 10, for reinforcing the corner area of the enclosure 10.

For example, as best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, an outer sleeve 31 is provided and may be made of cloth or canvas or plastic materials, and may be folded to form a longitudinal channel 32 therein, to receive the longitudinal rod or strap 30 therein, and may include one or more, such as two free or folded flanges 33 engaged between and secured to the outer peripheral flanges 14, 15 the outer peripheral wall 12 and the bottom wall 13 with such as the stitches 16 (FIG. 2) or staples or fasteners (not shown), for solidly securing and attaching the longitudinal rod or strap 30 to reinforce the corner area of the enclosure 10.

The suitcase further includes a reinforcing member or frame 40, such as a peripheral frame 40 for snugly engaged into the chamber 11 of the enclosure 10, for bracing and reinforcing the enclosure 10. The reinforcing frame 40 may be made of paper board, plastic, synthetic or fiber materials, and preferably includes a honey-comb structure having an outer peripheral panel 41, an inner peripheral panel 42, and a number of ribs 43 provided or formed or secured between the peripheral panels 41, 42, for forming a reinforcing structure, and for allowing the reinforcing frame 40 to have a weight reduced structure.

As also best shown in FIG. 4, it is preferable that the inwardly folded outer peripheral flange 14 of the outer peripheral wall 12 is secured to the outer peripheral flange 15 of the bottom wall 13 and/or secured to the folded flanges 33 of the outer sleeve 31, but preferably not secured to the outer peripheral wall 12 of the enclosure 10, and arranged to form a substantially wedge-shaped peripheral recess 18 therein, and for snugly receiving and engaging with and anchoring an end edge 44 of the reinforcing frame 40, for example.

It is preferable that the reinforcing frame 40 includes an inclined ramp or surface 45 formed in the inner peripheral panel 42 thereof, and located close to or inclined toward the end edge 44 thereof, to form a sharpened structure for the end edge 44, and to allow the sharp end edge 44 to be suitably and snugly fitted into the peripheral recess 18 formed or defined between the inwardly folded outer peripheral flange 14 and the outer peripheral wall 12, and thus for further stably anchor and secure or couple the reinforcing frame 40 to the enclosure 10.

The reinforcing frame 40 may further include another inclined ramp or surface 46 formed in either the outer peripheral panel 41 thereof (FIGS. 1-3 and 5), or the inner peripheral panel 42 thereof (FIGS. 6, 7), and located at the other side or end opposite to the end edge 44 thereof, to form another sharpened end edge 47 that is opposite to the end edge 44 thereof. The provision or the formation of the inclined ramp or surface 46 may slightly offset the reinforcing frame 40 from the zipper of slide fastener 22 (FIG. 3), for allowing the zipper of slide fastener 22 to be smoothly or swiftly operated.

Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 6, 7, the inclined ramp or surface 46 may also be formed or located at the side opposite to the zipper of slide fastener 22, for increasing the resilience of the end edge 47 of the reinforcing frame 40, and also provided for allowing the zipper of slide fastener 22 to be smoothly or swiftly operated. As shown in FIG. 1, the reinforcing frame 40 may include two end portions 48, and one or more pegs 49 engaged into the end portions 48 of the reinforcing frame 40, such as engaged between the ribs 43, to couple and to anchor the end portions 48 of the reinforcing frame 40 together.

Accordingly, the suitcase in accordance with the present invention includes a reinforcing structure, for suitably reinforcing the suitcase, and for preventing the suitcase from being easily collapsed.

Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 

1. A suitcase comprising: an enclosure including a chamber formed therein, and defined by an outer peripheral wall and a bottom wall, said outer peripheral wall including an outer peripheral flange folded inwardly to form a peripheral recess therein, a cover member attached to said enclosure, for enclosing said chamber of said enclosure, and a reinforcing frame engaged into said chamber of said enclosure, for bracing and reinforcing said enclosure, said reinforcing frame including an end edge fitted into said peripheral recess of said outer peripheral wall, for stably anchoring said reinforcing frame to said enclosure.
 2. The suitcase as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bottom wall includes an outer peripheral flange folded inwardly, and secured to said outer peripheral flange of said outer peripheral wall.
 3. The suitcase as claimed in claim 2, wherein a reinforcing strap is attached to said outer peripheral flanges of said outer peripheral wall and said bottom wall, for reinforcing said enclosure.
 4. The suitcase as claimed in claim 3, wherein an outer sleeve is provided and attached to said outer peripheral flanges of said outer peripheral wall and said bottom wall, for receiving said reinforcing strap.
 5. The suitcase as claimed in claim 4, wherein said outer sleeve includes a longitudinal channel therein, to receive said longitudinal strap therein, and includes at least one flange engaged between and secured to said outer peripheral flanges said outer peripheral wall and said bottom wall.
 6. The suitcase as claimed in claim 1, wherein said reinforcing frame includes an inclined surface formed therein, and located close to said end edge thereof, to form a sharpened structure for said end edge, and to allow said sharpened end edge to be snugly fitted into said peripheral recess of said outer peripheral wall.
 7. The suitcase as claimed in claim 6, wherein said reinforcing frame includes a honey-comb structure having an outer peripheral panel, an inner peripheral panel, and a plurality of ribs provided between said peripheral panels, said inclined surface is formed in said inner peripheral panel of said reinforcing frame.
 8. The suitcase as claimed in claim 7, wherein said reinforcing frame includes a second inclined surface formed in either said outer peripheral panel or said inner peripheral panel.
 9. The suitcase as claimed in claim 8, wherein said cover member is openably attached to said enclosure with a slide fastener, and said second inclined surface of said reinforcing frame is arranged to offset said reinforcing frame from said slide fastener.
 10. The suitcase as claimed in claim 1, wherein said reinforcing frame includes two end portions, and at least one peg engaged into said end portions of said reinforcing frame, to couple said end portions of said reinforcing frame together. 